Block a buyer in three steps
You can block a buyer from purchasing from you on eBay by adding them to your blocked buyers list. Once blocked, that person cannot bid on or buy your items, though they can still see your listings. The block takes effect immediately and stays in place until you remove it.
You do not need a reason to block someone. You might block a buyer after a dispute, or simply because you prefer not to do business with them. eBay does not require you to explain your decision to the buyer or to eBay itself.
The process takes less than a minute and can be done from your eBay account settings on desktop or mobile.
Key Takeaways
- Blocked buyers cannot place bids or make purchases on your items, but they can still view your listings and your store.
- You can block a buyer through your account settings under Blocking, or directly from a past transaction or message.
- A block is permanent until you manually remove it, and eBay does not notify the buyer that they have been blocked.
- Blocking a buyer does not cancel an active auction or purchase — you must handle that separately if needed.
- If a blocked buyer tries to bid, their bid will be automatically rejected by eBay's system.
Block a buyer from your account settings
The most direct route is through your eBay account. Sign in and go to Account, then select Blocking in the left menu under Selling. You will see a section labeled "Block buyers" with a text field.
Type the buyer's eBay username into the field and click Block. eBay will confirm the block immediately. If you need to block multiple buyers, repeat this step for each one — you can add them one at a time or paste a list if you have several usernames ready.
To find a buyer's username, check your past transactions, messages, or the bid history on any of your listings. The username appears next to their feedback score.
Block a buyer from a past transaction or message
If you are already looking at a transaction or message from the buyer you want to block, you can block them directly from that page without going to your account settings.
Open the transaction in your Sold or Purchase History, or open a message from that buyer in your Messages folder. Look for a "Block buyer" link or button — on most pages it appears near the buyer's name or username. Click it, and eBay will add them to your blocked list immediately.
This route is faster if you are dealing with a specific transaction and do not want to navigate through account settings.
What happens when you block a buyer
Once blocked, that buyer cannot place new bids on your items or make purchases from you. If they try to bid during an active auction, their bid will be rejected automatically and they will see an error message saying they cannot bid on that item.
The blocked buyer can still see your listings, your store (if you have one), and your feedback. They can also still message you, though you can delete or ignore those messages. Blocking only prevents them from buying, not from viewing or contacting you.
If the buyer has an active bid or purchase with you at the time you block them, the block does not cancel that transaction. You will need to cancel the order or end the auction separately if you want to stop the sale.
Remove a block if you change your mind
Blocks are not permanent in the sense that you cannot undo them. Go back to Account > Blocking > Block buyers and look for your list of currently blocked buyers. Find the name you want to unblock and click the Remove button next to it.
Once removed, that buyer can bid on and purchase your items again immediately. There is no waiting period or confirmation step — the removal takes effect right away.
Blocks do not work retroactively
Blocking a buyer only stops future purchases. If you have already sold to them or they have already won an auction, the transaction stands. You cannot use the block feature to cancel a completed sale or undo a finished auction.
If you need to cancel an active auction or purchase, you must do that through the auction or order page itself, not through the blocking feature. eBay will ask you to select a reason for the cancellation — "Buyer requested cancellation" and "Item no longer available" are the most common options.
When blocking does not solve the problem
Blocking prevents a buyer from purchasing from you, but it does not stop them from leaving feedback or contacting you. If a blocked buyer leaves negative feedback or continues to message you, those are separate issues handled through different eBay tools.
To address feedback, you can respond to it publicly or request that eBay remove it if it violates their policies. To stop messages, you can delete them or report the buyer to eBay if the messages are abusive or harassing. Blocking is one tool, but it does not cover every situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the buyer know they are blocked?
eBay does not send a notification to the buyer telling them they have been blocked. They will only learn about they try to bid on one of your items and see an error message. Some buyers may never realize they are blocked if they do not attempt to purchase from you again.
Can I block a buyer who has not purchased from me yet?
Yes. You do not need a transaction history with someone to block them. You can block any eBay user by their username, whether or not you have ever done business with them.
What if a blocked buyer tries to bid using a different account?
eBay cannot prevent someone from creating a new account. If you suspect a blocked buyer is bidding under a different username, you can report it to eBay through the Resolution Center or by contacting eBay customer service. They can investigate if the accounts are linked.
Does blocking a buyer affect my seller rating?
Blocking a buyer does not directly affect your rating. However, if you block a buyer who has an active purchase and then cancel the order, that cancellation may count against your metrics depending on the reason you select.
Can I block a buyer from my mobile app?
Yes. Open the eBay app, go to Account, tap Blocking, and follow the same steps as on desktop. You can also block a buyer directly from a message or transaction on mobile by tapping the block option next to their name.